More atomic hydrogen gas – the ultimate fuel for stars – is lurking in today’s Universe than we thought, CSIRO astronomer Dr Robert Braun has found. A radio image of the Large Magellanic Cloud, made with CSIRO radio telescopes. The bright areas are where the most atomic hydrogen gas is found. Image credit: S. Kim [continue reading]
Intense UV radiation on the red planet releases methane from organic materials which meteorites transport onto its surface. Methane concentration on Mars: The graphics shows the calculated methane concentrations in parts per billion (ppb) on Mars during the summer in the northern hemisphere. Violet and blue indicate small methane, red areas indicate large amounts. Credit: [continue reading]
The long and tumultuous history of asteroid (21) Lutetia is revealed by a comprehensive analysis of the data gathered by ESA’s Rosetta spacecraft when it flew past this large main-belt asteroid on 10 July 2010. New studies have revealed the asteroid’s surface morphology, composition and other properties in unprecedented detail. In particular, extensive studies [continue reading]
As galaxies go, our Milky Way is pretty quiet. Active galaxies have cores that glow brightly, powered by supermassive black holes swallowing material, and often spit twin jets in opposite directions. In contrast, the Milky Way’s center shows little activity. But it wasn’t always so peaceful. New evidence of ghostly gamma-ray beams suggests that [continue reading]
In a fjord in Canada scientists have found a landscape similar to one of Jupiter’s icy moons: Europa. It consists of a frozen and sulfurous environment, where sulfur associated with Arctic bacteria offer clues for the upcoming missions in the search for traces of life on Europa. Artist’s concept of Jupiter’s icy moon Europa. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech [continue reading]
An international collaboration of scientists, including Thomas Blum, associate professor of physics of the University of Connecticut, is reporting in landmark detail the decay process of a subatomic particle called a kaon – information that may help answer fundamental questions about how the universe began. Artist rendering of the beginning of the Univers. Credit: Mark. [continue reading]